All purpose portable ice chest

Abstract

A portable ice chest used for maintaining its contents in a cooled or frozen state for an extended period of time. The ice chest includes an insulated cover with an inner compartment and an insulated container with a bottom compartment. The cover is adapted to fit airtight upon the top opening of the container. To maintain the contents of the ice chest in a frozen state, a refrigerant coolant such as dry ice is placed in the inner compartment only. To maintain the contents of the ice chest in a refrigerated state, a refrigerant coolant such as dry ice is placed in the bottom compartment only. Additionally, when no dry ice is placed in either compartments, the present invention can be used as a regular ice chest.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An all-purpose portable ice chest comprising: 
       a thermally insulated cooler defining a bottom compartment and a top opening;  
       an insulated cover being adapted to fit airtight upon the top opening of the cooler, the cover defining an upper compartment;  
       an upper grid having a plurality of apertures, the upper grid overlaying the upper compartment;  
       the upper compartment being adapted to form an inner cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls;  
       the upper grid further comprising:  
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the inner cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the inner cavity,  
       two opposing sides,  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the inner cavity, and  
       means for securely attaching the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the inner cavity;  
       a lower grid having a plurality of apertures, the lower grid overlaying the bottom compartment;  
       a storage area disposed between the top opening and the lower grid for containing a load; and  
       a first refrigerant coolant being contained within the upper compartment for maintaining the load in a frozen state for an extended period of time.  
     
     
       2. The ice chest of  claim 1 , wherein the first refrigerant coolant is dry ice. 
     
     
       3. The ice chest of  claim 1 , wherein the cooler has a size, weight, and a configuration conducive for handheld carrying by a user. 
     
     
       4. The ice chest of  claim 1 , further comprising a second refrigerant coolant contained within the bottom compartment. 
     
     
       5. The ice chest of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is hingedly connected to the top opening of the cooler. 
     
     
       6. The ice chest of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is completely removable from the top opening of the cooler. 
     
     
       7. The ice chest of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom compartment is adapted to form a bottom cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls. 
     
     
       8. The ice chest of  claim 7 , wherein the lower grid further comprises: 
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the bottom cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the bottom cavity;  
       two opposing sides;  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the bottom cavity; and  
       means for securely attaching the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the bottom cavity.  
     
     
       9. The ice chest of  claim 5 , further comprising a means for securing the cover to the cooler. 
     
     
       10. The ice chest of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for draining the excess liquid collected within the cooler. 
     
     
       11. The ice chest of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a mesh protective covering completely encompassing the first refrigerant coolant and being stored within the inner cavity, whereby a user is prevented from directly touching the first refrigerant through the apertures in the upper grid.  
     
     
       12. The ice chest of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
       a mesh protective covering completely encompassing the second refrigerant coolant and being stored within the bottom cavity, whereby a user is prevented from directly touching the first refrigerant through the apertures in the lower grid.  
     
     
       13. The ice chest of  claim 1 , wherein the storage area is defined by the area disposed between the top opening and the lower portion of the bottom cavity wherein the lower grid is traversed from a closed position into an open position forming a 90 degree angle with the upper opening of the bottom cavity. 
     
     
       14. An all-purpose portable ice chest comprising: 
       a thermally insulated cooler defining a bottom compartment and a top opening;  
       an insulated cover being adapted to fit airtight upon the top opening of the cooler, the cover defining an upper compartment;  
       an upper grid having a plurality of apertures, the upper grid overlaying the upper compartment;  
       the upper compartment being adapted to form an inner cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls;  
       the upper grid further comprising:  
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the inner cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the inner cavity,  
       two opposing sides,  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the inner cavity, and  
       means for securely attaching the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the inner cavity;  
       a lower grid having a plurality of apertures, the lower grid overlaying the bottom compartment;  
       a storage area disposed between the top opening and the lower grid for containing a load; and  
       a first refrigerant coolant being contained within the bottom compartment for maintaining the load in a refrigerated state for an extended period of time.  
     
     
       15. The ice chest of  claim 14 , wherein the first refrigerant coolant is dry ice. 
     
     
       16. The ice chest of  claim 14 , wherein the cooler has a size, weight and a configuration conducive for handheld carrying by a user. 
     
     
       17. The ice chest of  claim 14 , wherein the cover is hingedly connected to the top opening of the cooler. 
     
     
       18. The ice chest of  claim 14 , wherein the cover is completely removable from the top opening of the cooler. 
     
     
       19. The ice chest of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom compartment is adapted to form a bottom cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls. 
     
     
       20. The ice chest of  claim 19 , wherein the lower grid further comprises: 
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the bottom cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the bottom cavity;  
       two opposing sides;  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the bottom cavity; and  
       means for securely attaching the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the bottom cavity.  
     
     
       21. The ice chest of  claim 18 , further comprising a means for securing the cover to the cooler. 
     
     
       22. The ice chest of  claim 14 , further comprising a means for draining the excess liquid collected within the cooler. 
     
     
       23. The ice chest of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
       a mesh protective covering completely encompassing the second refrigerant coolant and being stored within the bottom cavity, whereby a user is prevented from directly touching the first refrigerant through the apertures in the lower grid.  
     
     
       24. The ice chest of  claim 14 , wherein the upper compartment is a second storage area for a load. 
     
     
       25. The ice chest of  claim 14 , wherein the load is packed with ice. 
     
     
       26. An all-purpose portable ice chest comprising: 
       a thermally insulated cooler defining a bottom compartment with inner side walls and a top opening;  
       an insulated cover being adapted to fit airtight upon the top opening of the cooler, the cover defining an upper compartment;  
       an upper grid having a plurality of apertures, the upper grid overlaying the upper compartment;  
       the upper compartment being adapted to form an inner cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls;  
       the upper grid further comprising:  
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the inner cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the inner cavity,  
       two opposing sides,  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the inner cavity, and  
       means for securely the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the inner cavity;  
       a lower grid having a plurality of apertures, the lower grid overlaying the bottom compartment;  
       the bottom compartment being adapted to form a bottom cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls;  
       the lower grid further comprising:  
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the bottom cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the bottom cavity,  
       two opposing sides,  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the bottom cavity, and  
       means for securely attaching the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the bottom cavity;  
       a storage area disposed between the top opening and the lower grid for containing a load; and  
       a means for draining the excess liquid collected within the cooler.  
     
     
       27. A method for utilizing an ice chest as a refrigerator, freezer, or cooler, the method comprising: 
       providing an insulated ice chest comprising a cover having an inner compartment with a plurality of apertures, a bottom compartment having a plurality of apertures, and a storage area defined therebetween;  
       storing a load in the storage area;  
       inserting into the upper compartment a refrigerant coolant of a particular weight such that as the refrigerant coolant subliminates the gases flows through the apertures in the inner compartment down into the storage area wherein the load in the storage area is maintained in a frozen state for a predetermined period of time;  
       inserting into the bottom compartment a refrigerant coolant of a particular weight such that as the refrigerant coolant subliminates the gases flows through the apertures in the bottom compartment up into the storage area wherein the load in the storage area is maintained in a refrigerated state for a predetermined period of time;  
       cooling the load stored in the storage area wherein ice is place over the load such that as the ice melts the water flows through the apertures in the bottom compartment and is collected in the bottom compartment.  
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  wherein the predetermined period of time is determined by the weight of the refrigerant coolant. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27  wherein maintaining the load in a frozen state further comprises placing a second refrigerant in the bottom compartment such that the predetermined period of time is extended. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27  wherein the refrigerant coolant is dry ice. 
     
     
       31. An all-purpose portable ice chest comprising: 
       a thermally insulated cooler defining a bottom compartment and a top opening;  
       an insulated cover being adapted to fit airtight upon the top opening of the container, the cover defining an upper compartment;  
       an upper grid having a plurality of apertures, the upper grid overlaying the upper compartment;  
       a lower grid having a plurality of apertures, the lower grid overlay the bottom compartment;  
       a storage area disposed between the top opening and the lower grid for containing a load;  
       a means for maintaining the load in a frozen state for a predetermined period of time, wherein a refrigerant coolant is inserted into the upper compartment such that as the refrigerant coolant sublimates the gases flows through the apertures in the inner compartment down into the storage area;  
       a means for maintaining the load in a refrigerated state for a predetermined period of time, wherein a refrigerant coolant is inserted into the bottom compartment such that as the refrigerant coolant sublimates the gases flows through the apertures in the bottom compartment down up into the storage area; and  
       means for cooling the load stored in the storage area wherein ice is place over the load such that as the ice melts the water flows through the apertures in the bottom compartment and is collected in the bottom compartment.  
     
     
       32. An all-purpose portable ice chest comprising: 
       a thermally insulated cooler defining a bottom compartment and a top opening;  
       an insulated cover being adapted to fit airtight upon the top opening of the cooler, the cover defining an upper compartment;  
       an upper grid having a plurality of apertures, the upper grid overlaying the upper compartment;  
       a lower grid having a plurality of apertures, the lower grid overlaying the bottom compartment;  
       the bottom compartment being adapted to form a bottom cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls;  
       the lower grid further comprising:  
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the bottom cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the bottom cavity,  
       two opposing sides,  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the bottom cavity, and  
       means for securely attaching the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the bottom cavity;  
       a storage area disposed between the top opening and the lower grid for containing a load; and  
       a first refrigerant coolant being contained within the upper compartment for maintaining the load in a frozen state for an extended period of time.  
     
     
       33. An all-purpose portable ice chest comprising: 
       a thermally insulated cooler defining a bottom compartment and a top opening;  
       an insulated cover being adapted to fit airtight upon the top opening of the cooler, the cover defining an upper compartment;  
       an upper grid having a plurality of apertures, the upper grid overlaying the upper compartment;  
       a lower grid having a plurality of apertures, the lower grid overlaying the bottom compartment;  
       the bottom compartment being adapted to form a bottom cavity having an upper opening, a lower portion, and two opposing inner side walls;  
       the lower grid further comprising:  
       an equivalent configuration to the upper opening of the bottom cavity along with slightly larger dimensions than the upper opening of the bottom cavity,  
       two opposing sides,  
       means for hingedly connecting the first opposing side to the first opposing side wall of the bottom cavity, and  
       means for securely attaching the second opposing side to the second opposing side wall of the bottom cavity;  
       a storage area disposed between the top opening and the lower grid for containing a load; and  
       a first refrigerant coolant being contained within the bottom compartment for maintaining the load in a refrigerated state for an extended period of time.